Improvement in amalgamators



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THOMAS J. GHUBB, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

- Letters Patent No..67,498, dated August 6, 1867.

IMPROVEMENT IN AMALGAM'ATORS.

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Be it known that I, THOMASJJCHUFB, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Amalgamator; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makings par of this spccification, in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of the amalgamator.

Figure 2 is a view of one end of the amalgamator.

Figure 3 is a view of the opposite end of the same.

Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation.

Figure 5 is a sectional end view through line :0 2:.

Figure 6 is a sectional end view through line 3 1 Figures 7, 8, 9,10, 11, and 12, of sheet 2, represent a modification of the conveyor and its chamber.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a mode of carrying out the process of amalgamation by the vapors of mercury, which formed the subject of my caveat, filed in the confidential archives of the Patent Ofiice on the 29th day of June, 1854.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand my invention, I will describe its construction and operation.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a revolving cylinder: B B are friction-rollers, on which the cylinder A is supported and caused to revolve. O C are shelves or elevators, which are arranged within the cylinder A. D is a eonveyer-screui, to receive the ore and conduct it toward a conveyor-screw, E, which deposits the ore into the cylinder A. F is a conveyor-screw, to discharge the ore from the cylinder A at the opposite end to that in which the ore is fed into the cylinder. G is a receiving-hopper. H is a discharge-hopper. I is a discharge pipe, and J J are stationary pipes or. casings for the conveyers D E F. K is a furnace, arranged within which is a retort or mercury-still, L. M is a pipe and globe-valve for charging the retort L with mercury. N is a discharge pipe, leading from the cylinder A tothe retort L. O is a pipe for the discharge of the surplus vapor of mercury. P is a receiver for condensing this surplus vapor. Q is a cold-water chamber in the condenser P, and R is a pipe, connecting with the chimney V, or with a pump, to create a partial vacuum in the cylinder A, for the purpose of preventing the escape of mercury from said cylinder, or any of its connections where vapor of mercury will be contained. S S S are smiling-boxes for the ends of cylinder A and casings .FJ. T is an outer casing that surrounds the entire apparatus, and forms a housing for the same. U is a flue or pipe or-pipes, connecting the cylinder with the chimney V, with cold-water condenser attached. V is a safe-' guard, in case of any leak of mercuryvapor from the cylinder A, or its connections and passages to the chimney. Z is a cover to the hopper G, which may be closed when it is not desired to feed ore into said hopper. X is the propelling-shaft for the conveyer, and W is a pulley and shaft for communicating motion to the cylinder A.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Dry pulverized ore isfed into the hopper G through the opening Z. The small conveyer D screws the ore from under the hopper G, and banks it up between D and E, thus preventing any outward passage of air or vapor at that point. When said space between D and E becomes 'overchar ed the screiv-threads E carr ofl the sur lus, alwa s leavin the u or half of said screws or chambers g v Y P y g PP J J vacant, so as to leave a passage for the vapor in the upper half of chambers J J. The ore is thus conveyed into the cylinder A; and as this cylinder revolves the ore is carried up by the shelves C C, and caused to fall again in a loose state through the vapor of mercury therein. The ore'works its way into the left-hand .end of the cylinder A, and falls into hopper F, and is conveyed away, tbroughthepipe I, into water, or any kind of box, machine, amalgamator, or other suitable receptacle. The amalgam should be allowed to settle in water, or be agitated in water, to collect it in a mass. The liquid mercury is fed into the retort L by and through the globe-valve, which is provided with stop-cocks, so that this retort can be charged at any time. Should gold amalgam be used in the retort, the gold will remain in .the retort, and be taken out by opening the front end thereof, which may be made perfectly tight by means of clay or otherwise. The vapors pass into the cylinder A, and form an atmosphere of mercury, through which the dry ore is caused to continually fall. The mercury condenses on the gold or silver, coating the surfaces of the particles, so that such particles will adhere to each sues 2 other, and eventually, by agitation, will form one amalgamated mass; but it is preferable to allow the ore to puss out of the cylinder A. as rapidly as all the particles of gold are suificiently coated, and to aggregate the particles in a. separate vessel of water.

In sheet 2 I have represented a modification of a part of the machine hereinabove described. For course ore this modification may'bc found advantageous. This plan shows the centre or inside cylinder, or casing for the stirring-conveyer, joined in the middle, and vthe revolving cylinder dispensed with, or allowed to remain stationary as a jacket, to keep the inner cylinder warm. This cylinder may be arranged on an incline, the

discharging end being the lowest; and, if'desirable, water may be admitted into this cylinder, near the lower end, for condensing the surplus vn-por.

The apparatus above described may be used after the decomposing and oxidizing process, which forms the subject of another application for a patoutmade by me; or it may he used utter a dry-crushing and grinding operation; or any pulverized ore thoroughly cry can be treated in this machine.

Having thus described my invention, what I- claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. The employmentof a. revolving cylinder,'in'combination with lifters, s'tirrers, or agitators, for conveying and stirring ore' containing precious metals, whilst such ore is being subjected to the action of the vapor of mercury, substantially as described. 7 I

2 The employment of a revolving shaft, with stirrers or projections on it, for stirring, conveying, and

exposing ore containing precious metal, and while such -ore is being exposed to the vapor of mercury, substan tially as described.

3. The arrangement of a. condenser, in combination with a mercury-still and contrivances for exposing the ore to the action of the vapor of mercury, substantially as described.

4. Producing a partial vacuum in a mercury-retort and appurtennncesot' an apparatus for nmalgamating precious nietals by means of a puuip, chimney, orthei'r equivalents, substantially as described.

5 The outer casing or housing for enclosing an apparatus in which, the vapors of mercury are used for unalgamating precious metals, substantially as described. I

' 6. Providing for collecting the vapor-of mercury on its way from the amalgamator to the escape'fiue or chimney, substantially as described. y

.7. Heating the amalganmting-ehamber, in which the vapors of mercury and precious metals are contained, by heat applied upon the outside of the chamber, so as to'prevent a. too sudden condensation of the mercury upon the inside of said chamber.

I THOS. J.[CHUBB.

Witnesses:

DAVID B. PHILLIPS, Joun Ounmcron. 

